The Las Vegas Raiders got absolutely smoked 27-14 by the Arizona Cardinals last Thursday in their preseason opener, and man, new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard has his hands full already. This wasn’t just a loss, it showcased the deep-seated issues Leonard has to fix in his first season as the play-caller, especially when it comes to taking the ball away.
This Defense Has Been Bleeding Takeaways For Years
Look, the numbers don’t lie, and they are brutal. Last season, under former defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, the Raiders managed a measly 16 takeaways total, splitting them evenly with eight interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. That put them at a dismal 23rd in the entire 32-team league. But that’s not even the worst of it. Zoom out over the last five seasons, from 2021 to 2025, and the Silver & Black ranked 31st in the league with a pathetic 79 takeaways. Only the New York Jets were worse with 77. It’s truly mind-boggling how inefficient this unit has been. In Graham’s three years leading the defense, their best output was 22 takeaways in 2023, good for 19th. But then it cratered to just 13 takeaways in both 2022 (dead last, yikes!) and 2024 (31st). Leonard has a monumental task ahead of him to turn this historically anemic defense around.
New DC, Same Old Problems?
Beyond the takeaway drought, the preseason opener even highlighted some persistent tackling problems. While there were flashes of solid play, the bad habits that led to missed attempts were still very much on display. Joe Woods, the defensive backs and defensive pass game coordinator, laid it out straight: “We’ve got to make plays when they’re available for you, but the biggest thing for us is always playing your technique because if you play your technique, then the turnovers will come. So, we do a lot of ball drills, so that’s definitely an area we need to improve from last year.” Leonard wants a fast, aggressive defense that always has eyes on the ball, but they’re clearly not there yet.
Who’s Stepping Up To Get The Ball Back?
So, who’s going to lead the charge in making plays this season? Last year’s takeaway leaders included Kyu Blu Kelly with three interceptions and a fumble recovery, Isaiah Pola-Mao with two interceptions, and Devin White, Maxx Crosby, and Charles Snowden each grabbing one interception. For this upcoming season, the top candidates to generate those much-needed turnovers, based on Leonard’s desired playstyle, are Isaiah Pola-Mao, Maxx Crosby, Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, and Taron Johnson. Pola-Mao, a 27-year-old veteran safety, is a name to watch. He took the majority of snaps at free safety last year, snagged two picks, and looks primed to keep that spot despite competition. Leonard and his crew better figure this out fast, or it’s going to be a long season watching opponents march down the field without a fight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply